Laban Opande graduated Cum Laude from Texas Southern University’s School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 2001. He was also president of the Environmental Health Club at TSU from 2000- 2001. He is also a Master in Business Administration (MBA) graduate from the University of Phoenix. He graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University with a Juris Doctor degree in May of 2007. At Thurgood Marshall, he was Chief Justice of the Honor Court, Vice President of the International and Immigration Law Society, a Member of the Environmental Law Society, and Member of the Dean’s Diversity Committee. He was also an active participant of the law school’s Client Counseling, Moot Court, and Mock Trial Competitions. As a law student, he interned for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) General Law Division dealing with Labor, Employment and Contracts Law, and TMSL’s Criminal, Immigration, and Environmental Law Clinics. Prior to his admission to law school, he worked for several years as an IT Technical Analyst for American International Group (AIG) in Houston, as well as a Product Support Consultant for PlanView Inc, a software development company based in Austin, Texas.
Mr. Opande is admitted to Practice Law in all State Courts in Texas. He briefly worked with The Law Firm of Solomon Musyimi before establishing The Opande Law Firm in May of 2008. He is the Principal attorney in all legal matters at The OLF, ranging from Criminal Defense to Corporate & Business Law, Civil & Contract Law, Family & Immigration and Employment Law, Personal Injury and Criminal law. He can be reached at laban@opandelaw.com or (713) 721 1300.
Solomon Musyimi graduated from the Benjamin Banneker Honors Program at Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Cum Laude Honors in 1991. In 1994, he graduated with a Master of Science in Management from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In 2001, he graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law located at Texas Southern University. While in Law School, Mr. Musyimi did a Judicial Externship with Honorable Judge Kenneth Hoyt of the United States Southern District Court. Solomon Musyimi has been admitted to Practice Law in all State Courts in Texas, as well as the United States Southern, Northern and Western Districts. Prior to entering into the practice of Law, he worked as a Financial Analyst for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn Michigan. After leaving Ford, he worked for Bristol Myers Corporation as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Zimmer Division located in Warsaw, Indiana. He has been a practicing attorney since 2001. He can be reached at solomon@opandelaw.com or (713) 721 1300.
Joseph Baes graduated from James Madison College at Michigan State University with a B.A. in International Relations. His primary area of study was the relationship between globalization and statehood, and in particular, the role globalization plays between developing and developed countries. Choosing to remain in East Lansing, Joseph obtained his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law. He has previous work experience with the Ingham County Veterans Treatment Court, where he served as a mentor to veterans in need of assistance with the legal process. He also has experience at the City of Flint Attorney’s Office, where he researched and prepared legal memorandums on a variety of legal issues, as well as conducted pretrial interviews with misdemeanor defendants. In his free time, Joseph enjoys traveling with his partner and their two small dogs, and weight training. Should you need to reach Joseph, you may do so at (713) 721-1300 or jbaes@opandelaw.com.
James received his LL.B. from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, in 2011, where he achieved an Upper Second-Class Degree with Honors. While at Exeter, James was a participant in the Western Circuit Moot Court Competition in 2008/9, and a quarter-finalist in the 2009/10 Devon Chambers Moot Court competition. He also participated in the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court competition held at Gray’s Inn, London, in the summer of 2010.
James has previously interned with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, as well as in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, Principal Registry of the Family Division, London, under Senior District Judge Peter Waller and District Judge Liza Gordon-Saker. He is an active participant at the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program - Poverty Law and Veterans Affairs clinics - at the Michael E. Debakey V.A. Medical Center in Houston, TX. At The Opande Law Firm, he is in charge of all legal research and drafting of legal documents, as well as other general office and administrative functions. During his spare time, James enjoys playing rugby and traveling. Should you need to reach him, you may do so at 713-721-1300, or email him at jgood@opandelaw.com .
Tiffany Harvey is a graduate of Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan. At Ave Maria, she was a volunteer with the Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), a member of the Minority Law Student Association (MSLA), and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Prior to law school, she attended Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, where she graduated with a B.S., Justice Studies, in May 2004. She has also worked as an Academic Counselor at the University of Phoenix, in Phoenix, AZ & in Houston, TX, where she advised students on course planning and scheduling options. Ms. Harvey was a Research Assistant from May 2005-August 2005 for Prof. Kevin Lee, where she assisted in the preparation of materials for the Jurisprudence course. She has interned with Washtenaw County Public Defender, Ann Arbor, MI (Feb. 2007-May 2007), Summer Intern (May 2006 – June 2006) for U.S. District Judge J.B. McDade, United States District Court-Central District of Illinois, where she assisted in drafting an order that is cited in LEXIS (2006 US Dist LEXIS 42568), reviewed motions researched ERISA, third-party intervention, 2201 Appeals, summary judgment motions, and parent-subsidiary liability. She also interned for the Third Judicial Circuit Court-Criminal Division, Detroit, MI, (September 2005-December 2005) where she reviewed and analyzed copies of petitioners’ briefs, and researched and prepared corresponding opinions. She has also previously worked as a File Clerk for the Attorney General’s Office, Mesa, AZ from April 2002-July 2003, where she organized legal documents, and processed requests for production of documents. At The OLF, Ms. Harvey assists in drafting motions and petitions, conducting research and interviews, and preparing general documents in the areas of family law, immigration, employment law, civil and criminal litigation, and business law. She can be reached at tharvey@opandelaw.com or (713) 721 1300.
Nancy Vargas is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. At the University, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Spanish, and a minor in Secondary Education. At The Opande Law Firm, Nancy is known to be the glue that holds everything together. A great English and Spanish bi-lingual communicator, she is a great asset to the Firm where she assists both staff and clients in translating, interpreting, pre-screening and interviewing clients. In addition to assisting attorneys with drafting of letters, memos, petitions, court filings, and discovery material, she is also in charge of the general office administration. If you wish to contact Ms. Vargas, she can be reached by email at nvargas@opandelaw.com or at (713) 721 1300.
Mr. Mpoki Tenende is a Legal Assistant at The Opande Law Firm. Prior to joining this law firm, he worked as a Market Analyst at Cilicorp LLC – an engineering and technology firm providing energy and power solutions for developing markets. Mpoki has working experience in sales and marketing in a number of companies including Memphis AG – an authorized distributor of the world’s leading manufacturer of memory components, including memory IC's, modules, and flash based storage devices.
Mpoki was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and raised in Houston, Texas. Mpoki was admitted to the University of Dayton on a soccer scholarship where he pursued studies in Business Administration. He later transferred to the University of Houston-Downtown in his junior year and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a major in Marketing.
At The Opande Law Firm, he is in charge of the sales and marketing department. He also assists staff and attorneys in all areas of the law. Should you wish to contact him, he can be reached by email at mtenende@opandelaw.com or at (713) 721 1300.
Laban Opande graduated Cum Laude from Texas Southern University’s School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 2001. He was also president of the Environmental Health Club at TSU from 2000- 2001. He is also a Master in Business Administration (MBA) graduate from the University of Phoenix. He graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University with a Juris Doctor degree in May of 2007. At Thurgood Marshall, he was Chief Justice of the Honor Court, Vice President of the International and Immigration Law Society, a Member of the Environmental Law Society, and Member of the Dean’s Diversity Committee. He was also an active participant of the law school’s Client Counseling, Moot Court, and Mock Trial Competitions. As a law student, he interned for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) General Law Division dealing with Labor, Employment and Contracts Law, and TMSL’s Criminal, Immigration, and Environmental Law Clinics. Prior to his admission to law school, he worked for several years as an IT Technical Analyst for American International Group (AIG) in Houston, as well as a Product Support Consultant for PlanView Inc, a software development company based in Austin, Texas.
Mr. Opande is admitted to Practice Law in all State Courts in Texas. He briefly worked with The Law Firm of Solomon Musyimi before establishing The Opande Law Firm in May of 2008. He is the Principal attorney in all legal matters at The OLF, ranging from Criminal Defense to Corporate & Business Law, Civil & Contract Law, Family & Immigration and Employment Law, Personal Injury and Criminal law. He can be reached at laban@opandelaw.com or (713) 721 1300.
Solomon Musyimi graduated from the Benjamin Banneker Honors Program at Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Cum Laude Honors in 1991. In 1994, he graduated with a Master of Science in Management from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In 2001, he graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law located at Texas Southern University. While in Law School, Mr. Musyimi did a Judicial Externship with Honorable Judge Kenneth Hoyt of the United States Southern District Court. Solomon Musyimi has been admitted to Practice Law in all State Courts in Texas, as well as the United States Southern, Northern and Western Districts. Prior to entering into the practice of Law, he worked as a Financial Analyst for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn Michigan. After leaving Ford, he worked for Bristol Myers Corporation as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Zimmer Division located in Warsaw, Indiana. He has been a practicing attorney since 2001. He can be reached at solomon@opandelaw.com or (713) 721 1300.
Joseph Baes graduated from James Madison College at Michigan State University with a B.A. in International Relations. His primary area of study was the relationship between globalization and statehood, and in particular, the role globalization plays between developing and developed countries. Choosing to remain in East Lansing, Joseph obtained his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law. He has previous work experience with the Ingham County Veterans Treatment Court, where he served as a mentor to veterans in need of assistance with the legal process. He also has experience at the City of Flint Attorney’s Office, where he researched and prepared legal memorandums on a variety of legal issues, as well as conducted pretrial interviews with misdemeanor defendants. In his free time, Joseph enjoys traveling with his partner and their two small dogs, and weight training. Should you need to reach Joseph, you may do so at (713) 721-1300 or jbaes@opandelaw.com.
James received his LL.B. from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, in 2011, where he achieved an Upper Second-Class Degree with Honors. While at Exeter, James was a participant in the Western Circuit Moot Court Competition in 2008/9, and a quarter-finalist in the 2009/10 Devon Chambers Moot Court competition. He also participated in the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court competition held at Gray’s Inn, London, in the summer of 2010.
James has previously interned with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, as well as in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, Principal Registry of the Family Division, London, under Senior District Judge Peter Waller and District Judge Liza Gordon-Saker. He is an active participant at the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program - Poverty Law and Veterans Affairs clinics - at the Michael E. Debakey V.A. Medical Center in Houston, TX. At The Opande Law Firm, he is in charge of all legal research and drafting of legal documents, as well as other general office and administrative functions. During his spare time, James enjoys playing rugby and traveling. Should you need to reach him, you may do so at 713-721-1300, or email him at jgood@opandelaw.com .
Tiffany Harvey is a graduate of Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan. At Ave Maria, she was a volunteer with the Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), a member of the Minority Law Student Association (MSLA), and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Prior to law school, she attended Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, where she graduated with a B.S., Justice Studies, in May 2004. She has also worked as an Academic Counselor at the University of Phoenix, in Phoenix, AZ & in Houston, TX, where she advised students on course planning and scheduling options. Ms. Harvey was a Research Assistant from May 2005-August 2005 for Prof. Kevin Lee, where she assisted in the preparation of materials for the Jurisprudence course. She has interned with Washtenaw County Public Defender, Ann Arbor, MI (Feb. 2007-May 2007), Summer Intern (May 2006 – June 2006) for U.S. District Judge J.B. McDade, United States District Court-Central District of Illinois, where she assisted in drafting an order that is cited in LEXIS (2006 US Dist LEXIS 42568), reviewed motions researched ERISA, third-party intervention, 2201 Appeals, summary judgment motions, and parent-subsidiary liability. She also interned for the Third Judicial Circuit Court-Criminal Division, Detroit, MI, (September 2005-December 2005) where she reviewed and analyzed copies of petitioners’ briefs, and researched and prepared corresponding opinions. She has also previously worked as a File Clerk for the Attorney General’s Office, Mesa, AZ from April 2002-July 2003, where she organized legal documents, and processed requests for production of documents. At The OLF, Ms. Harvey assists in drafting motions and petitions, conducting research and interviews, and preparing general documents in the areas of family law, immigration, employment law, civil and criminal litigation, and business law. She can be reached at tharvey@opandelaw.com or (713) 721 1300.
Nancy Vargas is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. At the University, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Spanish, and a minor in Secondary Education. At The Opande Law Firm, Nancy is known to be the glue that holds everything together. A great English and Spanish bi-lingual communicator, she is a great asset to the Firm where she assists both staff and clients in translating, interpreting, pre-screening and interviewing clients. In addition to assisting attorneys with drafting of letters, memos, petitions, court filings, and discovery material, she is also in charge of the general office administration. If you wish to contact Ms. Vargas, she can be reached by email at nvargas@opandelaw.com or at (713) 721 1300.
Mr. Mpoki Tenende is a Legal Assistant at The Opande Law Firm. Prior to joining this law firm, he worked as a Market Analyst at Cilicorp LLC – an engineering and technology firm providing energy and power solutions for developing markets. Mpoki has working experience in sales and marketing in a number of companies including Memphis AG – an authorized distributor of the world’s leading manufacturer of memory components, including memory IC's, modules, and flash based storage devices.
Mpoki was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and raised in Houston, Texas. Mpoki was admitted to the University of Dayton on a soccer scholarship where he pursued studies in Business Administration. He later transferred to the University of Houston-Downtown in his junior year and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a major in Marketing.
At The Opande Law Firm, he is in charge of the sales and marketing department. He also assists staff and attorneys in all areas of the law. Should you wish to contact him, he can be reached by email at mtenende@opandelaw.com or at (713) 721 1300.